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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: stick · wave · temple · chip · hand · court · bay · stock

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The ball is in your ________________.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. chip — for betting
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. court — of a king
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. hand — in cards
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. stock — shares
  13. chip — to eat
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. court — for sport
  18. hand — help
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. court — of law
  24. stock — goods

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com